When Annie White steps back onto Cherry Pie Island, it’s safe to say her newly inherited Dandelion Café has seen better days! And while her childhood home on the Thames-side island idyll is exactly the same retreat from the urban bustle of London she remembers, Annie’s not convinced that Owner of The Dandelion Cafe is a title she’ll be keeping for long. Not that she can bear the idea of letting her dedicated, if endearingly disorganized staff lose their jobs. Plus café life does also have the added bonus of working a stone’s throw away from millionaire Matt and his disarmingly charming smile!
One (shoestring budget) café makeover, a few delightful additions to the somewhat retro menu and a lot of cherry pie tastings later, The Dandelion Café is ready for its grand reopening! But once she’s brought the dilapidated old café back to life, Annie finds herself wishing her stay on the island was just a bit longer. She always intended to go back to the big city…but could island living finally have lured her back home for good?

Take a stroll through the enchanting Cherry Pie Island, visit the Dandelion Cafe for a slice of piquant Cherry pie with the custard/cream/ice cream and rest under the ancient cherry trees at the back of the cafe for a while... The Grand Reopening of Dandelion Cafe is the perfect book if you are looking for a small break from the predicaments of your daily life.

Annie has returned to the Cherry Pie Island, to close down the cafe she inherited from Dad. However, the circumstances force her to give it a go, for the sake of the employees working in the cafe and soon she realizes her potential and what her heart really yearns.

Jenny Oliver has portrayed a strong-willed protagonist who achieves success and the inner peace by staying away from all the negativity she came across. The author takes us through Annie's flashbacks and tells us why it's important to prove herself this time and why Dandelion cafe matters a lot to Annie rather than just a family business. We get to know the protagonist so close. It helped to enjoy the book thoroughly.

Even so, I am inclined to believe that more than the characters, it's the setting of the story I have fallen for. Jenny Oliver's evocative, descriptive writing bring the charm and beauty of the Cherry Pie Island right in front of your eyes, and you can't resist the temptation to pack up your bag and set on a journey to the island. Only if Cherry Pie Island was a real place... I read the book last week. Still, my mind hovers around the Dandelion Cafe and the ancient cherry trees.

The setting and the writing has also managed to bring the characters alive, which doubles up the joy of reading. The story ends in a hopeful way, and I am tempted to grab the next book in the series.

In a nutshell, The Grand Reopening of Dandelion Cafe is a delightful, promising and heartwarming book with a gorgeous setting, beautiful narration, and lovable characters. Highly Recommended!